Huse Culinary
Huse Culinary is a family-owned Indianapolis hospitality company operating four premium restaurant concepts (St. Elmo Steak House, Harry & Izzy's, 1933 Lounge, The HC Tavern + Kitchen) and consumer food/spirits brands (St. Elmo Foods, St. Elmo Cocktails, Barkeep Vodka, Rare Saint Whiskey) across Indiana with planned Phoenix expansion in 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersIndianapolis, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Huse Culinary does
Huse Culinary is a privately held, family-owned hospitality management and brand company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded by Steve Huse in 1986 when he acquired the historic St. Elmo Steak House (established 1902), the company operates a portfolio of four restaurant concepts — St. Elmo Steak House (flagship premium steakhouse, James Beard American Classic awardee), Harry & Izzy's (upscale casual), 1933 Lounge (speakeasy-style cocktail bar), and The HC Tavern + Kitchen (American grill) — across seven-plus locations primarily in central Indiana, with the first out-of-state unit (Harry & Izzy's Phoenix) slated for Spring 2026. The company is led by second-generation CEO Craig Huse, who joined the family business at age 14 and assumed day-to-day operations in 1997.
The business is built on four operating pillars: (1) on-premise premium dining and private events (revenue from dine-in across all concepts, plus private dining for groups of 7 to 150+ guests); (2) consumer packaged goods under the St. Elmo Foods umbrella, including the iconic cocktail sauce, proprietary seasonings, and ready-to-pour St. Elmo Cocktails; (3) a spirits portfolio launched in 2024 under Prime Aged Spirits, comprising Barkeep Vodka and Rare Saint Whiskey; and (4) ancillary monetization through traditional and electronic gift cards, the Huse Honors tiered loyalty program (Paytronix-powered mobile app with Steward, Steakholder, and Patron Saint tiers), and the Goldbelly marketplace partnership for nationwide steak shipping. The technology stack is built on industry-standard hospitality SaaS — OpenTable for reservations, Tripleseat for private event booking, BentoBox for websites and gift card systems, and Paytronix for loyalty — with no proprietary AI/ML capabilities identified.
Huse Culinary generates revenue through transaction-based restaurant dining (the dominant stream), one-time retail product sales, gift card transactions, and a freemium subscription-style loyalty engagement layer. Customer segments span premium dining consumers (primary, for celebrations, business meals, and special occasions), retail CPG buyers purchasing through owned e-commerce and Goldbelly, and private event hosts (corporate functions, weddings, receptions). The company is self-funded with no disclosed external investors, indicating a profitable, family-controlled operator reinvesting in physical expansion and brand extension rather than pursuing venture-scale growth.
Huse Culinary firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Huse Culinary
- Legal name
- Huse Culinary, Inc.
- Website
- https://huseculinary.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Huse Culinary is a family-owned Indianapolis hospitality company operating four premium restaurant concepts (St. Elmo Steak House, Harry & Izzy's, 1933 Lounge, The HC Tavern + Kitchen) and consumer food/spirits brands (St. Elmo Foods, St. Elmo Cocktails, Barkeep Vodka, Rare Saint Whiskey) across Indiana with planned Phoenix expansion in 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Huse Culinary industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium Restaurant and Hospitality Services
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Food Services and Drinking Places (722), Special Food Services (7223), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Family-Style Restaurants (THAFACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Specialty & Dietary Catering (Halal, Kosher, Vegan, Allergen-Free, Medical) (THAHAKAK), Olive Oil, Vinegar & Condiment Specialty Stores (CRAHAGAJ), Butcher Shops & Meat Markets (CRAHAHAB)
Keywords
Where Huse Culinary is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Indianapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Huse Culinary business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Restaurant Dining: Revenue from dine-in restaurant operations across St. Elmo Steak House, Harry & Izzy's, The HC Tavern + Kitchen, and 1933 Lounge. Includes private dining events and catering.
- Retail Consumer Products: Sales of St. Elmo Foods products (cocktail sauce, seasoning blends), St. Elmo Cocktails (ready-to-pour cocktails), and Prime Aged Spirits (Barkeep Vodka, Rare Saint Whiskey) to consumers via e-commerce and retail.
- Gift Cards: Sale of traditional and electronic gift cards for use at participating Huse Culinary restaurants.
- Loyalty Program: Huse Honors loyalty program drives repeat visits and customer retention through points earned on qualifying purchases, with members able to redeem points for rewards in the Rewards Vault.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Steward tier (0-2 visits, 0-999 points/year) - Base loyalty tier with $10 sign-up reward, birthday recognition dessert, access to Rewards Vault |
| Freemium | Annual | Steakholder tier (3+ visits, 1,000-4,999 points/year) - Includes all Steward benefits plus tier achievement reward and early access to special event tickets |
| Freemium | Annual | Patron Saint tier (12+ visits, 5,000+ points/year) - Includes all Steakholder benefits plus priority reservations phone line, exclusive event invitations, reserved name plate, annual holiday gift |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Huse Culinary product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Huse Culinary develops, operates, and supports a portfolio of premium restaurant concepts including St. Elmo Steak House, Harry & Izzy's, The HC Tavern + Kitchen, and 1933 Lounge, primarily across Indiana with planned expansion to Arizona. The company also operates consumer packaged food brands (St. Elmo Foods, St. Elmo Cocktails) and spirits brands (Barkeep Vodka, Rare Saint Whiskey under Prime Aged Spirits) sold direct-to-consumer via e-commerce and through the Goldbelly marketplace. Supporting offerings include private dining events, gift cards, and the Huse Honors loyalty program.
Product overview
Huse Culinary is a hospitality management and brand company operating a portfolio of premium restaurant concepts and consumer food/spirits brands. The portfolio includes four restaurant brands (St. Elmo Steak House, Harry & Izzy's, The HC Tavern + Kitchen, and 1933 Lounge) along with retail brands (St. Elmo Foods, St. Elmo Cocktails, Barkeep Vodka, and Rare Saint Whiskey). Supporting services include the Huse Honors loyalty program, gift cards, and private dining facilities. The company is headquartered in Indianapolis with expansion planned to Phoenix in 2026.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- St. Elmo Steak House: Award-winning steakhouse restaurant founded in 1902, known for its world-famous Shrimp Cocktail and James Beard Foundation Award.
- Harry & Izzy's
- 1933 Lounge
- The HC Tavern + Kitchen
- St. Elmo Foods
- St. Elmo Cocktails
- Prime Aged Spirits
Products and services
- St. Elmo Steak House Flagship premium steakhouse restaurant located in downtown Indianapolis at 127 S Illinois St. Known for its iconic Shrimp Cocktail with signature horseradish cocktail sauce unchanged since 1946 and award-winning steaks. James Beard Foundation American Classic award recipient and one of America's top 25 highest-volume restaurants.
- Harry & Izzy's Premium dining concept honoring St. Elmo's legacy, offering classic dishes alongside an expanded menu. Operates multiple locations across Indiana including Downtown Indianapolis, Northside Indianapolis, and Indianapolis International Airport, with a Phoenix, Arizona location planned for Spring 2026.
- The HC Tavern + Kitchen Classic American grill offering an upscale yet approachable menu at The Yard at Fishers District. Features signature dishes like Lobster 'Cargot' alongside creative takes on classic American fare. Also operates a hybrid location at Indianapolis International Airport.
- 1933 Lounge by St. Elmo Speakeasy-style adults-only cocktail lounge (21+) inspired by post-Prohibition era, offering upscale bar experience. Operates multiple locations including Downtown Indianapolis (above St. Elmo), Fishers District, and Carmel Arts District.
- St. Elmo Foods Consumer packaged goods line featuring iconic St. Elmo Cocktail Sauce and proprietary seasoning blends, extending restaurant recipes to consumers for home use via e-commerce.
- St. Elmo Cocktails Ready-to-pour bottled cocktail line including Old Fashioned, Espresso Martini, Cosmopolitan, and Cherry Vanilla Bourbon. Available via e-commerce for at-home consumption.
- Barkeep Vodka Premium vodka brand launched in 2024 as part of Huse Culinary's portfolio of spirits brands under Prime Aged Spirits. Sold direct-to-consumer via e-commerce.
- Rare Saint Whiskey Premium whiskey brand launched in 2024 as part of Huse Culinary's portfolio of spirits brands under Prime Aged Spirits. Sold direct-to-consumer via e-commerce and featured in 1933 Lounge Carmel's private dining (Rare Saint Room).
- Huse Honors Loyalty Program Complimentary loyalty program enabling guests to earn points on qualifying purchases, achieve tier-based recognition (Steward, Steakholder, Patron Saint), and redeem rewards through the Rewards Vault. Powered by Paytronix and accessible via mobile app.
- Huse Culinary Gift Cards Traditional and electronic gift cards valid at all Huse Culinary restaurants (excluding airport locations and third-party delivery). Available online and in-restaurant.
- Private Dining and Events Private and semi-private event spaces across all Huse Culinary restaurants accommodating groups from 7 to 150+ guests for business meetings, corporate events, weddings, celebrations, and receptions, with professional service and custom menu options.
Quantifiable outcome
- St. Elmo Steak House ranks among America's top 25 highest-volume restaurants
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Huse Culinary
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Huse Culinary technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Huse Culinary partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves22 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Huse Culinary competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Capital Grille: The Capital Grille is a Darden-owned premium steakhouse concept serving a similar upscale dining customer base, with comparable private dining, wine programs, and event catering revenue streams.
- Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: Fleming's is an upscale steakhouse and wine bar chain operated by Bloomin' Brands, offering a directly comparable fine-dining steakhouse experience, wine-focused bar program (parallel to 1933 Lounge), and private dining model.
- Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse: Del Frisco's is an upscale steakhouse chain (now under Landry's following its 2024 acquisition) targeting a similar high-end business and celebration clientele, with comparable wine-centric, private-event-driven revenue model.
- Eddie Merlot's: Eddie Merlot's is a privately-held premium steakhouse chain with comparable positioning, multi-unit footprint, and event/private dining emphasis, closely mirroring Huse Culinary's specialty-steakhouse-plus-lounge structure.
- Ruth's Chris Steak House: Ruth's Chris Steak House is a U.S. premium steakhouse chain with comparable high-end positioning, signature dishes, and private-dining/event offerings; acquired by Darden Restaurants in 2023, making it the most direct large-scale comparable to St. Elmo Steak House.
- Morton's The Steakhouse: Morton's is a long-established high-volume U.S. steakhouse chain (now part of Landry's) directly comparable to St. Elmo on premium steakhouse positioning, multi-unit operation, event-driven private dining, and bar/lounge business mix.
- Ocean Prime: Ocean Prime is Cameron Mitchell Restaurants' flagship upscale dining concept, with directly comparable premium positioning, signature cocktails, private dining, and multi-unit expansion model across mid-sized U.S. markets.
- Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group: Smith & Wollensky is an iconic U.S. premium steakhouse brand with comparable heritage positioning, single-location prominence, and extension into retail/CPG products similar to St. Elmo Foods and Prime Aged Spirits.
- Cameron Mitchell Restaurants: Cameron Mitchell Restaurants is a multi-concept U.S. hospitality group that develops and operates multiple upscale dining brands, with directly comparable portfolio strategy, family-led operating culture, and growth-via-new-concept model.
Broad incumbents
- Texas Roadhouse: Texas Roadhouse is a publicly-traded broad incumbent in the U.S. casual steakhouse category, providing a relevant benchmark on steakhouse unit economics, supply chain scale, and consumer traffic patterns even though its positioning is more mid-market than Huse Culinary's premium portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Huse Culinary social profiles
Digital presenceHuse Culinary financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Huse Culinary leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Huse Culinary subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Huse Culinary funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Huse Culinary M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Huse Culinary
What does Huse Culinary do?
Huse Culinary develops, operates, and supports a portfolio of premium restaurant concepts including St. Elmo Steak House, Harry & Izzy's, The HC Tavern + Kitchen, and 1933 Lounge, primarily across Indiana with planned expansion to Arizona. The company also operates consumer packaged food brands (St. Elmo Foods, St. Elmo Cocktails) and spirits brands (Barkeep Vodka, Rare Saint Whiskey under Prime Aged Spirits) sold direct-to-consumer via e-commerce and through the Goldbelly marketplace. Supporting offerings include private dining events, gift cards, and the Huse Honors loyalty program.
Is Huse Culinary a public or private company?
Huse Culinary is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Huse Culinary founded?
Huse Culinary was founded in 1986.
Where is Huse Culinary based?
Huse Culinary is headquartered in Indianapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Huse Culinary make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Restaurant Dining is the primary driver. The others are retail Consumer Products, gift Cards and loyalty Program.
Who are Huse Culinary's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Capital Grille, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, Eddie Merlot's, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Morton's The Steakhouse, Ocean Prime, Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group and Cameron Mitchell Restaurants. Texas Roadhouse is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Huse Culinary have an API?
No public API is recorded for Huse Culinary.
What industry is Huse Culinary in?
Huse Culinary's product category is Premium Restaurant and Hospitality Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFACAC, Family-Style Restaurants, with a secondary code of THAHAKAK, Specialty & Dietary Catering (Halal, Kosher, Vegan, Allergen-Free, Medical). Its NAICS code is 722511 and its SIC code is 5810.